Protector for folded materials



P 1932- w. A. HEINZE ET AL 1,879,682

PROTECTOR FOR FOLDED MATERIALS Filed NOV. 21, 1931 WQMQ: app-252%? 5y Mtii Patented Sept. 27 1 932 umrsn stares WILLIAM A. nninzn AND Mano L. LISTON, or onronso, rnninorsnssronoas fro vroroi MANUFACTURING & GASKET COMEA'NY, or CHICAGO, ILLrNoisJr CORPORATION 01.;

ILLINOIS rnornoroa non ronnsn nArnninns Application filed November 21,1931. Serial No. 576,544. I I

This invention relates to protectors for the bundle in registration, besides retaining folded materials and its object is to hold a bundle of folded materials together in substantial registration and to protect them from breaking or creasing at the fold.

The invention can be used in connection with many different kinds of materials and is capable of being adapted in size and otherwise therefor, but for the purposes of this application it will be sufiicient to refer specifically to its use in connection with oil pan, crank case, gear cover and similar gaskets which are made in thin strip form of cork, paper, fibre and similar gasket material. These gaskets are sometimes made in single strips and sometimes in substantially rectangular and other shapes, they vary in size and shape and sometimes are quite long, and they are always limber and require careful handling and packing. V

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a selected embodiment of the invention Fig. l is a perspective view of a bundle of gaskets showing my invention applied to the fold thereof.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the protector.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the protector is made.

The blank is preferably stamped from a thin sheet of metal and comprises a body 4 having laterally projecting fingers 5, 6. One end portion of the body is bent to form a substantially circular loop 7. The finger 5 is bent over on one side of the body, spaced therefrom and substantially parallel therewith. The other finger 6 is bent over on the other side of the body, spaced therefrom and substantially parallel therewith. The gaskets are arranged one upon the other in a bundle 8 and the protector is applied to the bundle and the bundle is folded over the loop 7 of the protector; or the bundle is first folded and the protector applied thereto at the fold. The finger 5 projects over one part of the bundle and the finger 6 projects over the other part or the bundle adjacent the fold and since these fingers extend in opposite directions, they will retain the parts of the bundle in fixed relation and also retain the gaskets in the protector in its the bundle. with the fold of the bundle and this shape and the inherent rigidity of the metal providesa substantial support for the fold. We prefer to arrange the edge 9 of the body in substanproper association with tial abutting position to the body to prevent the loop from collapsing and this also increases the rigidity of the body between the loop and the fingers is preferably-bent slightly to conform with the bend of that part of the bundle with which it engages. The fingers may be bent before or after the protector is applied to the bundle and the protector is capable of repeated use because it can beeasily removed from the bundle without deforming or damaging the protector or the bundle. Also the outer gasket may be removed from'the bundle without affecting the other gaskets or removing the protector and thus the protector mayremain in place until all of the gaskets have been removed.

It has been the general practice to pack gaskets of this kind in fiat bundles and by, reason of their size, these bundles have required correspondingly large packing cartons and storage space. This invention enables the gaskets to be folded at least once and possibly more than once into compact form for packaging and storage withoutliability of breaking, creasing or otherwise damaging them.

lVe have described the invention as used in connection with gaskets but it may be used for other materials which are folded and the invention may be embodied in sizes, shapes and materials to meet different requirements within the scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. A device for holding and protecting layers of folded material from breaking or creasing at the fold, comprisin a body having a loop at one end thereo a retaining finger connected to one side edge of the body and having the end portion thereof bent to extend over the body on one side thereof and substantially parallel thereto, and an- The loop is shaped to correspond the loop as a support. 'for the fold ofthe bundle. That'part 1010f other retaining finger connected to the other side edge of the body and having the end portion thereof bent to extend over the body 7 on the other side thereof, and substantially parallel thereto, said fingers being spaced from said loop, the loop beingdisposed in the fold in the material and the portions of the material adjacent the fold being disposed between the fingers and the body whereby one ofthe layers may be removed from the device by first being withdrawn in one direction from below one finger and in then being withdrawn in the other direction from below the other finger tobe disengaged from the device.

2. A device for holding and protecting layers of foldedmaterial from breaking or creasing at'the fold, comprising a body haV ing a loop at one end thereof, a retaining finger connected to one side edge of the body and having the end portion thereof bent to extend over the body in spaced relation therewith on one side thereof and substantially parallel thereto, another retaining fingericonnected to the other. side edge of the body and having the end portion thereof bent to extend overthe body in spaced relation therewith on the other side thereof and substantially parallel thereto, said fingers being spaced from said loop, that part of the body between the loop and fingers being bent slightly to conform with the bend of that part of the material with which it engages, the loop being disposed within the fold of thematerial and the portions of the material adjacent the fold being disposed between the fingers and the body whereby one of the layers may beremoved. from the device by first being withdrawn in one direction from below one finger and in then being withdrawn in the other direction from below the other finger to be disengaged from the device.

WILLIAM A. HEINZE. MARC L. LISTON. 

